How to Write a Motivation Letter: Examples & Template

A well-crafted motivation letter can open doors, whether you're applying for a job, a scholarship, a volunteer opportunity, or a study programme. It provides a chance to go beyond your CV and showcase your passion, goals, and unique value.

This guide explains what a motivational letter is and how to craft one that leaves a strong impression. It also shares expert tips, a ready-to-use motivation letter template, and inspiration from professional examples.

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What is a motivational letter?

A motivation letter, also known as a statement of purpose, is a formal document that explains why you are applying for a specific opportunity, such as a job, academic programme, or volunteer role. It provides context to your CV, further illustrating why you are the ideal candidate for the role.

A good motivational letter is one-page long and structured into three paragraphs: an introduction that presents your intent, a body that highlights the best aspects of your experience, and a conclusion that thanks the reader.

When do you need a motivational letter?

You can write a motivation letter whenever you want to express your enthusiasm for a specific opportunity. This type of application letter is usually expected in the following situations:

• Applying for a PhD or a study programme
• Seeking a job at a non-profit organisation
• Applying for an internship or a volunteer opportunity
• Applying for a scholarship or a grant 

Check if the opportunity you’re pursuing requires a motivational letter. If it doesn’t, you can write a cover letter instead.

How to write a motivational letter

A well-written motivation letter effectively highlights achievements, goals, enthusiasm, commitment, and a good fit. It allows you to share your story and passion, and make a personal connection. 

Here’s how to write a motivation letter:

1. Start your motivation letter by listing your contact information in the header

Handle any document you submit with care and attention. Consider your motivational letter as a formal business document, a reflection of your professionalism, and an example of your written communication skills.

Begin by listing your contact details aligned right, leave space for the date, then switch to left alignment and write the hiring manager’s contact info.

Motivational letter example: header

2. Grab their attention with an engaging opening paragraph

If you don’t have a good, strong start, the recruitment manager could move on to the next applicant.

Begin with the correct formal greeting, ‘Dear [hiring manager’s name]’ and not a generic ‘To Whom It May Concern’. Personalisation is crucial because when the hiring manager reads their name, it instantly activates their brain, ensuring you’ve their full attention.

The opening paragraph of your motivational letter should refer to the programme requirements or the job advertisement. This clarifies your intentions and shows that you have customised the letter specifically for that opportunity, rather than using a generic copy-and-paste.

Follow that with a hook, such as an impressive achievement that grabs the hiring manager's attention and showcases your exceptional qualities as a candidate. This could be an academic award, a work accomplishment, or a personal achievement you’re particularly proud of.

Motivation letter examples: opening

3. Add more proof of your capabilities

Expand on the second paragraph of your motivation letter by incorporating additional details about your skills and experience to illustrate the value you can bring.

Begin by re-reading the programme description or job advertisement. Then, show that your skills and experience match the requirements specified. You can do this by including more achievements and quantifying them with figures. Enhance your triumphs even further by structuring them as accomplishment statements. 

Motivation letter sample: second paragraph

4. Show commitment and passion in your letter of motivation

The third paragraph is the ideal place to display enthusiasm and passion for the opportunity. Highlight a fact about the company or organisation that makes you eager to apply. 

If you’re applying for a job or volunteer position, you may mention any challenges or changes the company or organisation is currently facing. Explain how you can contribute to solving those challenges and assist in adapting to those changes.

Motivation letter example: third paragraph

5. Finish your motivational letter with a thank you, a call to action, and the sign-off

Use the final paragraph of your letter to conclude and secure an interview effectively. Express your gratitude, not only because it’s good manners, but also because it’s a proven way to motivate the recruitment manager to view your application positively.

Include a call to action: ask the hiring manager to contact you to discuss the opportunity further. You can also mention another achievement or express your career goals for an extra-strong finish.

Sign off using your full name, using ‘Yours sincerely’ if your letter of motivation was sent to a named person and ‘Yours faithfully’ if it was sent anonymously. 

Add a professional flourish with a digital copy of your handwritten signature. Additionally, if you’re sending your motivation letter as the body of an email, your contact details should be included in your email signature. 

Motivation letter example: closing

Tips for writing a motivational letter

A motivational letter’s content is important, but presentation is equally vital. A neat, visually appealing letter demonstrates attention to detail, improves readability, and boosts your professionalism. 

Below are key tips on formatting and visual design to ensure your letter makes a positive impression.

• Keep it short. Your motivational letter should be concise, no longer than an A4 page, with 3–5 short paragraphs. Admissions officers and recruiters tend to skim, so keeping your message brief ensures your main points are quickly and clearly understood.
• Use a professional font. Stick to a clean, serif or sans-serif font that’s easy to read on screen and paper. Recommended options include Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, etc.
• Adjust the font size. Use 11-point or 12-point font for body text. Your name or headings (if any) can be slightly larger (14–16 pt), but avoid anything too flashy or decorative.
• Maintain consistent margins and spacing, with 1-inch on all sides. Use 1.15 or 1.5 line spacing for readability, and add a blank line between paragraphs for flow and balance.
• Avoid overusing bold or italics. Use bold sparingly for names, headers, or employers, and italics for publication titles or emphasis. Avoid underlining, as it looks messy in formal documents.
• Save and submit as a PDF. Always save your motivational letter as a PDF to preserve formatting across devices and platforms. Name your file clearly, e.g.,
  Motivational-Letter_Faye-Collins_Anforth.pdf.
• Customise the file for the reader. While visual formatting concentrates on structure, consistency demonstrates effort. Match your CV's minimalist style in your letter. If you include branding like a logo for creative fields, incorporate it subtly into your layout.

Motivation letter examples 

Below, you can find two examples of motivational letters: the first is a job motivation letter, and the second is for students.

Motivation letter for a job (example)

Now let’s take a look at a slightly different motivational letter sample: this one is for a university.

Motivational letter for a student (example)

Before you go, let me show you a ready-to-use motivation letter template that you can personalise easily to create a letter suited to your needs. 

Motivational letter template

Looking for advice on other career-related letters? Check these guides:

• How to Prepare a Covering Letter for The Job You Want
• ChatGPT: How to Use It for Your Cover Letter
• Email Cover Letter: Detailed Guidelines
• Generic Cover Letter: Instructions & Examples
• Short Cover Letter: How to Write + Expert Examples
• Best Cover Letter Layouts to Apply in 2025
• Cover Letter Structure & Guidelines
• What to Include in Your Cover Letter?
• Writing a Resignation Letter: A Full Guide
• Email Cover Letter (+ Plenty of Examples)
• How to Format a Cover Letter for a Job in 2025

You don’t have to create any content yourself. The LiveCareer cover letter generator will automatically suggest the best content for your cover letter with ready-made examples and expert tips.

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Thanks for reading! I hope you found our motivation letter template useful. Good luck with achieving your goals using a professional motivational letter!

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• University of North Georgia: Accomplishment Statements
• D. J. Howard, C. Gengler, A. Jain, "What's in a Name? A Complimentary Means of Persuasion”
• N. Hojjati, B. Muniandy, “The effects of font type and spacing of text for online readability and performance”